Fluidic Metaphor: A View into the Nature and Future of War

摘要

War is a complex and chaotic continuum; but it is not indecipherable. Applying to war the same holistic approach and language that science has provided for the chaotic behavior of fluids can yield surprising insight into war's nature and by extension, its future. This paper introduces a comprehensive metaphorical theory for war based on the properties of fluids, a fluidic metaphor. This theory is intended to clarify the nature of war and to reconcile the seemingly disparate realms of regular and irregular warfare within a broad 'continuum' of war. Furthermore, it refines, redefines, and unifies many of the terms associated with war. After war is defined and the theory explained, it is discussed as a form of validation in comparison to various concepts of war, existing war theory, and historical case studies. Finally, the metaphor is applied to the practical matter of revealing the character of future war and how the United States should prepare for it.